WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF TRADITIONAL SHOTOKAN KARATE

WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS TO OUR CLASSES

PLEASE COME BY AND VISIT OUR CLASSES

AND

ENJOY THE SITE.

INSTRUCTORS :

SENSEI: DON LINVILLE (YONDAN)

SEMPAI: DOUG OLSON (SANDAN)

PLEASE VISIT THE "IMPORTANT INFORMATION" SECTION

CLASS LOCATION:

Downstairs Woodfin Community Center

11 Community St. Asheville, NC 28804

CLASS TIMES:

CHILDREN: Thursday 6:30pm -7:15pm

ADULTS:

Tuesday and Thursday 7:30pm- 8:30 pm

LETTER FROM SENSEI:

We are a traditional Japanese style. Shotokan karate is one of the most widely recognized and practiced martial arts forms in the world. Our style is affiliated with the Japan Karate Association (JKA). I am a lifetime member of the JKA. Our school is affiliated with the JKA through me, the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) through me, and the United Shotokan Karate Federation (USKF) through all members receiving rank promotions at this school.

Shotokan karate is based upon a series of punches, blocks, and kicks. It is a very straight-forward system. Being of Japanese origin, it focuses on more punches than kicks, typical of a traditional Japanese systems of fighting. Although there are some arm-bars, wrist-twists, etc. the system does not focus on ?submission? fighting, like the styles that are so prevalent on TV right now. We focus on making the maximum amount of power based on the physics of the body and applying that power effectively to vulnerable targets. Technically, we subscribe to an old adage stating ?a strong offense is a strong defense?. Traditional Shotokan styles exercises and katas start with a block. This emphasizes the defensive nature of Shotokan. However, we are trained to deliver the blocks with such intensity and focus that they are actually attacks (offense). This is intended to either disable the attacker or change his/her mind about the continuation of the attack. Our classes are NOT gymnastics, dance, or flashy. We try to teach ?down to business? techniques that can be applied as self defense against one or more attackers. We learn to practice ?zan-shin? which roughly translated means ?perfect finish?. A perfect technique, delivered perfectly will stop an attack. One of the credos of Shotokan karate is ?seek perfection?. Therefore, with our practice and strick adherence to traditional training, we ?seek perfection? in our fighting style, in our way of applying our techniques, and our attitude toward our art. This leads us to attention to detail, which to some styles would seem minor. However, nothing about perfection is minor.